• An elderly couple and a 29-year-old man died after being struck by lightning near the White House.
• A fourth individual was badly hurt.
• The victims were at Lafayette Square, a public park just north of the president’s residence.

An elderly couple from Wisconsin were among three people killed after being struck by lightning near the White House in Washington, DC, according to authorities.

James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, were in Washington to commemorate their 56th wedding anniversary, according to their niece.

On Friday, an unidentified 29-year-old male was killed in the strike. A fourth individual was badly hurt.

On Thursday, the victims were at Lafayette Park during a storm when they were struck.

Because of the park’s closeness to the US president, agents of the US Secret Service were among the first to attend to the casualties.

According to Michelle McNett, a relative, the Muellers are survived by five children, ten grandkids, and four great-grandchildren.

The White House expressed sympathy to the families of those who died. “We are praying for those who are still struggling for their life,” stated White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

The four victims were struck by lightning beneath a tree near the White House complex’s perimeter fence.

Following the event, a section of the park remained blocked, with emergency personnel on the site.

The National Weather Service had issued a thunderstorm warning for the region on Thursday.

Lafayette Square is a seven-acre public park located just north of the White House. It is often busy with tourists, particularly during the summer.

According to US health statistics, over 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the US each year, although the chances of getting struck are fewer than one in a million, and almost 90 percent of all such victims survive.

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